Lubricating device



. i Patented Apr. 5, 19427.

UNITED STATES PATENT ori-fica.

FREDERICK C. BLANCHARD, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

mantenerme nEvrcn Application inea April 14,

Thisinvention relates to the art of lubri- .cation, more especially methods of and means for o ening the closures of receptacles and intro ucing lubricant there1nto,and alms to avoid the inconvenience, loss of time, *and* other disadvantages which have hitherto1 characterized the use of devices of this class. While the invention is susceptible of general application, it has more particular reference to the lubrication'of the various minor bear- -invs ofl 'a motor car, such as spring bolts and other parts which v'are usually provided with grease or oil cups.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of one illustrative embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: i Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section of 'a lubricating system exemplifying my invention Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fi'f. 1; and i.

f ig. 3 is a sectional view similar to a por tion of Fig. 1`, showing a modification of the nozzle and its outlet valve.

Referring to .the drawings, and to thev embodiment-of my invention which I have selected for exemplification, I have shown a receptacle which may be of any suitablecharacter, herein exemplified by a self-closing oil cup 4, provided with an inlet 6 normally closed by a closure 8, which is normally heldclosed' by a. suitable spring 10. The closure opens in an outward direction against the yielding resistance afforded by the spring, and the latter restores the closure to its normal position after it has been released.

' The imlement for` opening the closure and intro ilcing the lubricant will now be described, reference being had at firstmore particularly to Fig. 1. A reservoir .l2 is provided for the lubricant, preferably oil,

which is conducted therefrom through a conduit 14 to a nozzle 16 having an outlet 18 through which the oil is`discharged into the Aoil up. 'The nozzle. and the oil cup are provided with suitablev cooperating means to guide the nozzle .into place when the imple- 'i ment is handled from a remote point, and to open the oil ycup b v any approprlaie mechaniv cal action 'such as wedging. v-In the present example, the' closure and the body of the oil' cup are provided with ppposed abutments 2O I"escape of oil a 1921. serial No. 461,219.

and 22, between which the nozzle is received,

the latter beingsuitably formed to open the i therefore, the jaws are introduced between 4 the abutments presented bythe, rece tacle and its closure, the latter is opene and pushed to one side, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby bringing the outlet ofthe nozzle into registration with the inlet 6 of the oil cup.

Preferably the outlet of the implement is valve-controlled, and in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I have iovided an outlet valve 30 cooperatinv with tie valve seat 32, against which the valve is normally held seated b a sprlug 34. In the form shown in Fig. .3,

have shown an outlet valve 30 cooperating with a valve seat 32 againstfwhich t e valve isnormally held seated by a spring 34. This valve is opened by the pressure of the oil,

and is closed by the spring when'the pressure is removed. In the form shown in Figs.

1 and 2, the spring 34 rests at one end against the valve seat, and at the other vagainst an abutment 36 carried by a valve stem 38, the` latter extending through an opening 40 presented by the valve seat, said opening being suticiently large' in diameter to permit the valve is opened. The oil when thus released passes into a chamber 42, whence it is deliv- .ered through a passage 44 to the outlet18.

Preferabl the outlet valve 30 is opened out the valve stem whenthe A by the app ication of the nozzle ,tothe oil cup. and to this end the valve stem38 is herein prolonged as at 46 to present a l plunger which extends to the 'exterior' of the nozzle in the space between the jaws ,24.

The plunger is mounted to slide lengthwise of the wedgedike jaws. When, therefore, the latter are introduced between t-heabutments of the oil cup and its closure, the latter is opened followedby the openingof the valve." 'lhus the operations of opening the closure. presenting the outlet of the nozzle in proper position for tlxe-deliveryof oil, and

.the release of the latter by the opening of the outer valve, are coordinated.

is to say, intiexible,`sothat-by the use of one hand only the nozzle may be applied to the oil cup. This makes it possible to use the implement in places where a two-hand operation would be diflicult or inconvenient. Moreover, the expulsion of the oil from the reservoir is a one-hand operation, this being conveniently accomplished by making the reservoir in the form of a cylinder in which there is mounted to reciprocate a piston 48 suitably attached to the inner end of the conduit 14, which constitutes a piston rod. When the im lement is used for automobiles, its length will be such that the user may reach in from some point desirably remote :from the oil receptacle and introduce the lubricant,thereby avoiding contact of the hands or clothing with the dirty or oily parts of the machine. The piston is herein provided with a cup-leather packing 50, whose free ed e is directed rearwardly and in contact wit the internal surface of the cylinder. The latter is providedwith suitable means to permit the introduction of a sup ly of oil thereinto, and to that end herein llas acover in the form of a c linder head 52 provided with an annular. ange 54 having screw-threaded en agement with the rear end of the cylin er. When the cover is screwed into place, a compressible acking ring or washer 56 prevents escape o the oil in a rearward direction. It is intended that the iston shall be moved to the front end of t e cylinder, and the space at the rear of the piston then filled with oil by the removal of the cover, which is then replaced. In order to reduce to a minimum the amount of air at the rear of the piston, I preferably grovide one or more suitable vents 58, herein oles through'the flange 54 just forward of the washer 56. The cover is provided with suitable means for displacing the air, and to that end is herein cupped inwardly as at 60, to whatever extent is necessary to ensure the expulsion' of all of the' air in applying the cover. As the cover is being yscrewed into place, air trapped in the cylinder makes its escape throughthe vent holes, and finally the latter are closed when the end of the cylinder brings up against the washer. The cylinder is then tightly sealed. The exclusion of theY air 'isx 'important because otherwise air and oil would come out together, and there would be a tendency to spray andlspread the oil.`

AThe pressure of air would tend to cause some oil to be expelled after the pressure is relaxed, thus wasting oil and smearing things generally. When the air is excluded, the oil isdelivered in a solid 4 stream and no oil will pass out of the nozzle after the thrust on the cylinder ceases.

, Having fined theimpiefnent witiwii, um,

operation is as follows 'The cylinder presents a. handle which is grasped by one hand of the user, who then applies the nozzle to tlieoil cup' by thrusting the tapered jaws of the nozzle between the abutments presentedby the oil cup and its closure, thereby opening the latter and causing the outlet of the nozzle to be presented in registration with the inlet l of the oil cup. During the latter part of this movement, the valve-controlled plunger brings up against the oil cup and causes the outlet valve of the implement to be opened. When the body of the nozzle brings up against the side of the oil cup, further movement of the nozzle is prevented, and as a consequence the cylinder continuing to move forward in the grasp of the user moves relatively to the piston, thereby causing the expulsion of oil through the conduit and its nozzle into the oil cup. When the proper amount has been introduced, the user sim l reverses the movement of the cylinder, whic results in vreleasing the outlet valve and allowing the same to close under the influence of its spring, and finally releasing the closure ofthe oil cup and allowing the latter to close under the influence of its spring. The simplicity and convenience of o eration are too obvious to require further fascription.

Having thus described one embodiment of vmy invention, but without limiting myself lubricant receptacle, a handle presenting a f reservoir, and means operated by rectilinear movement of said reservoir relatively to said receptacle, first to open said receptacle and subsequently to cause the introduction of lubricant tliereinto.

3. Lubricating apparatus comprising a lubricant receptacle, a reservoir presenting a handle, and means including a conduit leading from and movable relatively 'to said reservoir and operated bysaid handle first to open ysaid receptacle and then to cause the introduction of lubricant from said raser voir into lsaid receptacle.

4. Lubricating apparatus', comprising a lubricant receptacle having a closure, a. reservoir, a nozzle carried by said reservoir and 'having means operated movement of said reservoir vto o n said clos'iii'e, and means operated by re ativef'mov'eme'nt -of said reservorr and said nozzle .tocause the owsof lubricant from vsaid reservoir throughsaid.

nozzle to said receptacle.

5. The combination with a receptaclecom prising a body presenting a passage having an inlet and an outwardly o emng closure for said inlet, said body and c osure presenting spaced shoulders; of an im lement hav` ing means toenter the space etween said shoulders in a direction transversely of said passage to opensaid` closure andto introduce lubricant into said receptacle.v4

c 6. The combination with a receptacle having a passage and an `outwardly opening closure therefor, of-an implement having an outwardl opening closure, and' means to utilize re ative movement'of said implementv and receptacle transversely of said passage to effect Openin v(1f-said closuresa-nd the introduction of lu ricant from said implement into said receptacle.

7. The combination with a receptacle having a valved inlet, of an implement provided with a reservoir, afconduit presenting a pasduction of Alubricant from said reservoir outflowof lu ricant through said through said conduit to said receptacle.

8. The combination with a receptacle comprising a body having a passage and a valve therefor presenting spaced shoulders, of an implement 'having a wedge-like 'formation to 6 lenter the space between said shoulders and to cooperate therewith to utilize relative transverse movement of said implement and receptacle relatively to said passage to cause the opening of said valve.

9. The combination with a receptacle comprising a body provided with a passage having an inlet and a cover therefor, said body and said cover presenting normally spaced shoulders, of an implement having a wedgelike formation adapted to enter the space between said shoulders to utilize movement of said implement transversely of said passage relatively to fsaid receptacle to cause the opening of said cover.

10. In a lubricating apparatus, the combination of a receptacle comprising a body presenting a passage andan outwardly opening closure therefor presenting spaced shoulders, and an implement having means to enter the space between said shoulders transversely of said passa e to open said closure and to introduce lubricant into said body.

11` In a lubricating apparatus, the combination of a receptacle having an outwardly opening closure, a filling implement having aclosure, and means to cause the first-mentioncd'closure to open first, followed by the opening of the second-mentioned closure.

12. In a lubricating apparatus, the combination of la receptacle having an outwardly opening closure, a filling implement having a valved outlet, and vmeans including a single actuator to cause the opening of said closure followed by the opening of the valve of said outlet andthe flow of. lubricant from said outlet into saidreceptacle. a

13.' A lubricating apparatus comprising, 1n combination, a receptacle having a 'clo-" sure, and a filling implement for one hand" operation, the same comprising a cylinder presentlng a handle, a piston and a piston rod working therein and presenting a passage communicating with said cylinder, and

means carried b said piston rod to utilize movement of said cylinder toward said receptacle to cause the opening of said closure,

and to utiliz; a continuance of said move'- ment to cause introduction of, lubricant from said cylinder through said piston rod into said receptacle. v

' 14. A lubricating apparatus comprising,

-1-n combination, a receptacle, and a filler hav` ing a cylinder presenting a handle, a `piston working within said cylinder and having a piston `rod presenting a passaffe having an inlet communicating with said cylinder to utilize a rectilinear forward thrust of said handle and cylinder to expel lubricant vthrough said assage,'a valve controlling the assage,

and means 'to utilize said forward t rust of said handle and said cylinder and engagement of said piston rod with said receptacle to cause opening of said valve.

15. The combination of. a lubricant recep- 10o tacle. provided with a guiding formation, .and a filling implement having an actuator atits outer end and having at its inner end a part provided with a guiding and limiting formation, to enable the actuator of the ini- 105 plement to be grasped at its remote end and guided into place and stopped in the proper t position for deliveryof lubricant into said receptacle, and means operated by movement off said actuator to cause such delivery.

16. In ya lubricating apparatus, the combination of a receptacle comprising a body having an upwardly presented inlet and a cover therefor; and a filler comprising a conduit, and cover-lifting 'means having 115 parts to engage and to embrace said body `during the cover-opening and receptaclelilling operations.

17. Inra lubricating apparatus, the combination of a rece tacle comprising a body having an upwar ly presented inlet .and a cover therefor; and a filler comprising a' conduit, and cover-liftingwedges having parts to engage and .to embrace said body during the cover-opening and receptaclefilling operations. c

18. 'In a lubricating apparatus, the combi nation of a rece tacle comprising a body having an upwariily presented inlet and an upwardly lopening cover therefor; and a filler comprising a conduit, and cover-lifting inclined surfaces adapted to embrace said bod between said cover and a portlon of said ody during the cover-lifting and receptacle-filling operations.

19. In a lubrlcating apparatus, the combination of a receptacle comprisin a body having an upwardl presented in et and a cover therefor; an a filler com rising a conduit, means to guide said con uit laterally by engagement with said body during and to the end of its advance toward said inlet, and means adapted to engage said body to limit such advance.

20. In a lubricating apparatus, the combination of a receptacle comprismg a body having an upwardly presented inlet and a y cover therefor; and a filler comprising a conduit, means to embrace said body and to guide said conduit laterally during and to the end of its advance toward said inlet, and means to lift said cover during such advance.

21. In a lubricating apparatus, the combination of a receptacle comprising a body having an upwardly presented inlet and a cover therefor; and a filler comprising a conduit, means to embrace said body and to guide said conduit laterallyduring and to the end of its advance toward said inlet, and means to utilize such advance to lift said cover.

22. In a lubricating apparatus, the combination of a'receptacle comprising a body having an upwardly presented inlet and an upwardly displaceable cover therefor; and a filler comprising a conduit, and bifurcated, body-embracing, cover-lifting and conduitpositioning means operative to position said conduit during the cover-lifting and receptacle-filling operations.

23. In a lubricating apparatus; the combination of a receptacle comprising a body having an upwardly presented inlet and an upwardly displaceable cover therefor; and a filler comprising a conduit, and a forked cover lifter adapted to straddle said body thereby to position said conduit for the tilling operation.

24. In a lubricating apparatus, the combination of a receptacle comprising a body having an upwardly presented inlet and an upwardly displaceable cover therefor; and a filler comprising a conduit, cover-lifting means, and cooperative means on said conduit and ou said body below said inlet to limit the downward movement of said coverlifting v'means with relation to said body.

25. In la lubricating apparatus, the combination ot' a receptacle having a body provided with an inlet passage, an outwardly opening cover therefor` and a filler comprising a reservoir, a conduit leading from said reservoir and presenting an outlet, and means carried by said conduit for cooperation with said body to open said cover and to cause relative positioning of said outlet and said inlet both longitudinally and transversely of said conduit during the coveropenin r and receptacle-filling operations.

26. n a lubricating apparatus, the combination of a receptacle comprising a body having an inlet provided with an outwardly opening cover, and a filler comprising a reservoir, a conduit leading from said reservoir and presenting an outlet, cover-opening means carried by said conduit, and means carried by said conduit for cooperation with said vbody to insure proper transverse positioning of said cover-opening means with respect to said receptacle for opening engagement with said cover and for guidance of said conduit to its receptacle-filling position.

27. In a lubricating apparatus, the combination of a receptacle having an upwardly presented inlet provided with an upwardly opening cover, and a liller comprising a reservoir, a conduit leading from said reservoir and presenting an outlet, cover-lifting means vcarried by said conduit, cooperative means on said receptacle and said conduit to cause proper positioning of said cover-opening means vertically and horizontally for opening engagement with Said cover and to guide Said outlet laterally to the completion ot' its forward movement, and means carried by said conduit for eooperation with said receptacle to limit the advance of said outlet to a point where the lubricant issuing therefrom can be viewed b v the operator.

28. In a lubricating apparatus, the combination of a receptacle comprising a body' having an upwardly presented inlet provided with an upwardly opening cover, and a filler comprising a reservoir, a conduit leading from said reservoir and presenting an outlet, cover-lifting means carried by said conduit, and cooperative means on said body and said conduit to cause proper positioning of said cover opening means vertically and horizontally for opening engagement with said cover and to guide said outlet into proper position above said inlet for discharge thereinto.

29. ln a lubricating apparatus, the combination of a receptacle having an upwardly presented inlet provided with an upwardly opening cover, and a filler comprising a reservoir, a conduit leading from said res-- ervoir and presenting an outlet, cover-lifting means carried by said conduit, cooperative means on said receptacle and said conduit to causo proper positioning ot' said cover opening means vertically and horizontally i'or opening engagement with said. cover and to guide said outlet laterally to the end ot' its forward movement, and means carried b v said conduit for cooperation with Said rereplarle to predetermine the forward movement of said outlet with relation to said sure, to lopen said receptacle and subimet. sequently to cause the introduction of 1uv30. Lubricating apparatus comprising a brioant thereinto. 10 lubricant receptacle, a handle presenting ai AIn 'testimonywhereo I have signed my 5 reservoir, and means operated by rectilinieai` .name to this specifiation.

movement of said reservoir relativelyto` said f receptacle to subject the lubricant to prest FREDERICK C. BLANCHARD. 

